The man struggling in Li Xuan's grip was not an ordinary survivor.
His name was Chen Yu, a twenty-five-year-old who had awakened as a sequencer just five days ago under unexpected circumstances.
At that time, he had been traveling inside a crowded bus with his convoy when a sudden and intense headache struck him without warning.
The pain had been unbearable, forcing him to collapse while others assumed he was simply sick or exhausted.
However, when he regained consciousness, everything had changed.
He could see things others could not, and information seemed to flow into his mind effortlessly.
That was the moment he realized he had awakened as a sequencer.
At first, Chen Yu had been extremely happy, believing that he had gained the power to survive in this dangerous new world.
But that excitement quickly faded when he understood the nature of his abilities.
His sequence was known as the Sage Sequence.
It was not a combat-oriented ability, and it did not grant him strength or offensive power.
Instead, it gave him two unique abilities that were both powerful and dangerous in their own way.
The first ability was Identification.
This ability allowed him to analyze people, objects, and even ghosts or mutated beasts, as long as their level was not more than one level higher than his own.
Through it, he could see basic data such as names, abilities, lifespan, and other biological or functional information.
He could even understand the usage and practicality of certain items, making him incredibly valuable in a world filled with unknown dangers.
The second ability was Super Memory.
It allowed him to process information rapidly, analyze situations efficiently, and retain everything with near photographic accuracy.
Nothing he saw or learned would be easily forgotten.
While these abilities were powerful, they also came with a serious problem.
They made him useful, but not strong.
Chen Yu was naturally timid and cautious, always thinking several steps ahead before taking action.
After awakening, instead of feeling safe, he became even more afraid.
He did not dare to reveal his abilities to anyone in his convoy.
Because he knew very well what kind of people they were.
The sequencers in his convoy were not kind or trustworthy.
If they discovered his ability, he feared he would be turned into nothing more than a tool or a slave.
Someone who would be forced to provide information without ever being valued as a person.
His fears were not without reason.
The leader of his convoy was a cruel and twisted individual who abused his power without hesitation.
He particularly enjoyed dominating others, especially weaker men, treating them as nothing more than playthings for his own satisfaction.
Chen Yu had suffered under him more than once.
Those humiliating experiences had left deep scars in his mind.
Because of this, he had always wanted to escape.
But he never found the right opportunity.
When they arrived at Tiger Village, he finally saw a chance.
This place was filled with different groups and strangers, which meant he could disappear if he was careful enough.
He began secretly using his Identification ability to observe people around him.
During this process, he discovered three individuals who had not yet awakened but had the potential to do so in the future.
One of them was a woman, while the other two were men.
One of the men belonged to the Tiger Gang and had a strong, burly build, which made Chen Yu immediately lose interest in approaching him.
The other two seemed like ordinary survivors, making them easier targets for manipulation.
Chen Yu carefully approached them over time, pretending to be friendly while slowly gaining their trust.
He then revealed a part of the truth, saying in a low and mysterious tone, "I am a sequencer, and I have the ability to help others awaken."
Of course, this was not entirely true, but it was believable enough.
He continued, "However, the number of people I can help is limited, and not everyone is suitable for awakening."
The middle-aged man, who had always desired power, quickly agreed without much hesitation.
"If what you say is true, then I am willing to follow you," the man said eagerly.
However, the woman was far more cautious.
She looked at Chen Yu with suspicion and replied, "I don't believe you, and even if it is true, I don't think you are someone I should trust."
After saying that, she walked away without giving him another chance to speak.
Chen Yu felt slightly frustrated, but he did not push further.
He knew that forcing things would only make others more suspicious.
His plan was simple.
Gather a small group of people under his control.
Form his own convoy.
And eventually live a better life without being controlled by others.
However, everything changed the moment he saw Li Xuan.
When Chen Yu casually used his Identification ability on him, what he saw completely shattered his composure.
The information that appeared in his mind was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
A sequence that carried overwhelming danger and unpredictability.
Chaos Plunder.
The name alone made his heart tremble.
As he processed the details, a terrifying realization formed in his mind.
This ability could potentially steal or plunder the abilities of others.
The implications were horrifying.
"If he knows about my ability, I will definitely die," Chen Yu thought in panic.
Or worse—
He might lose everything.
That was why, the moment their eyes met, his expression changed so drastically.
And now, he was trapped.
Back in the alley, Li Xuan's grip tightened around Chen Yu's throat as his patience slowly wore thin.
"I will ask one last time," Li Xuan said coldly, his voice calm but filled with pressure.
"What exactly did you see?"
Chen Yu's face turned pale as fear filled his eyes.
"I… I really didn't see anything," he said weakly, trying to avoid direct eye contact.
Li Xuan's expression became colder.
"You expect me to believe that?" he asked, his tone carrying clear disbelief.
Despite the pressure, Chen Yu refused to speak the truth.
He knew that the moment he revealed his ability, his fate would be sealed.
No matter how Li Xuan questioned him, he either remained silent or gave vague and meaningless answers.
Li Xuan observed him carefully and quickly realized that the man was lying.
"There is something he is hiding, and it is something related to me," he concluded internally.
After a moment of silence, his expression turned completely indifferent.
In this world, uncertainty was danger.
And danger had to be eliminated.
Without hesitation, Li Xuan tightened his grip.
A faint cracking sound echoed in the narrow alley.
Chen Yu's body went limp almost instantly.
His eyes remained wide open, filled with fear and regret.
Li Xuan did not show any emotion as he looked at the lifeless body.
He quickly checked his surroundings once more before storing the corpse into his spatial storage.
Then he calmly returned to the house as if nothing had happened.
Inside, he noticed that the ground floor room was empty.
Without wasting time, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
He then took out the corpse again and placed it on the ground.
For a moment, he stood there silently, as if considering something carefully.
After a brief hesitation, he slowly raised his hand and placed it over the man's chest.
A warm sensation suddenly spread from his palm into his entire body.
It was a strange but comforting feeling, as if something was being absorbed into him.
His mind felt clearer.
Lighter.
After about twenty seconds, the sensation faded.
Li Xuan withdrew his hand and stored the corpse again.
At the same time, new information appeared in his mind.
"The second sequence ability… Sage Sequence," he murmured quietly.
As he examined the abilities he had just gained, his expression changed slightly.
When he saw the details of Identification, a cold sweat appeared on his back.
"So that's how he saw me," he realized immediately.
For a brief moment, he felt a trace of guilt for killing the man.
But that feeling disappeared just as quickly.
"If I had let him go, he would have become a threat," he thought calmly.
Now, he was certain that his decision had been correct.
This world did not allow hesitation.
After understanding the nature of his new abilities, Li Xuan became more cautious.
"I cannot appear carelessly in front of others anymore," he thought seriously.
"If someone else has a similar ability, my secret could be exposed."
After organizing his thoughts, he opened the door and stepped out of the room.
His expression had already returned to normal.
But inside—
Everything had changed.
Now, with a new ability in his possession, he was ready to test its limits.
And understand just how powerful it truly was